I thought it was time to update you on some of my progress and my commitment to seasonal #justpicked flowers.

Spring sown sweet pea coming on well in the tunnel 3rd March 2014Autumn sown Ammi Majus plants in abundance 3rd March 2014First sweet peas blooming 29th May 2014Sweet love, first bunch of heavenly scented sweet peas from the Ditsy Floral Cutting Patch #sweetpea #posyjar #homegrownThe first bunch of mixed blooms from the Ditsy Floral Cutting Patch, mainly grown from @higgledygarden seeds! #wildflowers #soproud #happyfloristThe dahlias and zinnias are just starting to bloom and will keep the cutting patch going right through to Autumn.Posy Jar #justpicked from the garden

I have been using my floral abundance to create beautiful Posy Jars, perfect for a small gift, so next time you visit friends bring a Ditsy Floral Posy Jar rather than a bottle of wine or box of sweets. Something different! Love flowers, love Ditsy Floral Design.

I’m currently devouring all flower related blog content and I love the flower inspired blog flowerona by Rona Wheeldon. I came across her concept of Florist Friday and that’s certainly suits me as I only ever seem to have time to write my blog on a Friday!!

I must apologise for the delay in my posts this month. I have been very busy #tiredflorist. Firstly, a house move at the start of the month set the pace. More space for the toddler and the bouncy dog – but most importantly, a garage that has been very quickly adopted as a floral studio!!

Surrounded by a sea of boxes and jam jars and only two days into the new house I found myself working on a bouquet for my first bridal photo shoot with Grace & Saviour for Rock the Frock Wedding Fair!! I’m very excited! The styling brief was pastel pinks, peach and silvery green tones in a natural and wild hand tie. I haven’t seen the official shots yet, but here is a taster…

My style is very natural and a lot of my inspiration is drawn from nature and the countryside around me…nothing too formal. My work is more organic than that of a traditional florist. Working in this way gives my designs a variety in texture, form, colour and scent.Here I’ve used locally grown Eucalyptus from Barbara Erwin of Foliage Works and foraged ivy from the garden with Spring flowers Tulips and Ranunculus. My mum has always been a keen gardener and growing up in the countryside a love of plants and flowers was instilled in me from a very young age. I love working with material from my own cutting garden and seasonal locally grown flowers whenever possible.

Next, I was lucky enough to secure a slot at the Belmont Hotel Bridal Fayre, my local in Banbridge! I was the only florist in attendance and totally delighted with the response from brides-to-be. Here are some pics from the night…

The start of the year is always a busy time for wedding planning. I’ve had a number of enquiries from brides-to-be in recent weeks (so pleased, big grin). I thought I would prepare some buttonhole designs for inspiration – and to show off lol! I’m also studying my Level 3 in floristry and I have a portfolio to prepare for my final assessment in May – a few extra buttonhole and corsage designs will be appreciated.

The British flower twitterati have been buzzing and it’s all due to the Great British Garden Revival on BBC 2, 7pm all this week 6-10 Jan. Monday’s episode featured the growing movement surrounding British cut flowers – a hot trend for 2014! Search #britishflowers. Just watching the enthusiasm of Rachel de Thame (presenter), the growers and more importantly the florists has fired me up that this mildly romantic, whimsical business idea of growing and arranging my own cut flowers is going to work!

Bursting with ideas and inspiration on Tuesday, I attended my first meeting of the Northern Ireland Flower and Foliage Association NIFFA, a group of passionate growers and flower farmers steadfastly committed to seasonal home grown flowers. The discussion was lively and enjoyable but more importantly this group is my network for sourcing locally grown blooms for my wedding work and I hope to learn and develop horticultural skills from them. Northern Ireland grown flowers (#niflowers) are fresher by days than those imported from Holland and beyond. They are also more cost effective – imported flowers cost the earth, in air miles, refrigeration, preservatives and that’s not even taking into account the whack the wholesalers take!

It was last August when I successfully pulled off my first wedding using only Northern Ireland grown cut flowers and foliage, supplied mainly by Valerie Orr Trainview Farm (@TrainviewFarm) and raids on my own garden for Dahlias and foliage. Whilst the summer is clearly the best time for seasonal home grown flowers this experience proved to me that you can deliver beautiful, seasonal blooms, without importing from abroad.

This week has inspired me and solidified the fact that I am a grower florist wholeheartedly committed to the Northern Ireland and British cut flower industry. I can’t wait for the first of my home grown blooms to burst open in my polytunnel and I hope you too will support ‘Local’ and what could be a floral revolution!

New Year resolution – start a blog!!! This has been in the pipeline at least 6 months but where to start…ahh!! Perhaps, a little about me…

I’m Elaine, a 30 something girl who stumbled into the world of flowers recently and the romantic idea of growing her own cut flowers on a half acre plot in the heart of the rolling County Down (Northern Ireland) countryside. Flowers, food, a toddler and a bouncy border collie define my busy life. With a corporate career in tourism marketing as well, this blog is an opportunity to share my floral odyssey and foray into horticulture!

I specialise in wedding floral loveliness in a nostalgic, wild romantic style – think vintage, country, natural and organic. I’m passionate about seasonal home grown flowers for a natural ‘just picked’ look bursting with scent. As much as possible, I incorporate flowers, herbs and foliage from my own cutting garden – I like to think ‘artisan florist’!! I also hope to sell flowers by the bucket for DIY brides.

Whilst taking a floristry course, I realised my own style of flower arranging is much more relaxed, informal and wild than traditional floristry techniques. I love pretty flowers and a traditional ‘country chic’ or ‘wild romantic’ style. As well as the plant material I can provide from my own garden, I source from local flower farmers and home gardeners as much as possible – grown here, not flown here, keeping air miles down and quality high and bee friendly!!

If you’re planning a wedding or any special event (or just want to say hello) then get in touch, I’d love to hear about your plans and ideas. Based in Northern Ireland, I’m happy to work Ireland North and South. Say hello at elainegroves@hotmail.co.uk, @ElaineGrows, facebook.com/DitsyFloralDesign.

Photography All the photographs are taken by myself (very amateur) unless otherwise stated. If you would like to use them for personal use, please credit this blog. If however you are another florist using my images and passing them off as your own work, don’t!!